Venetian blind bar organization



30, 1952 H. NELSON 2,623,531

' VENETIAN BLIND 1m ORGANIZATION Filed Aug. 30, 1948 2 S!-lEETS--Sl-1EET1 INVENTOR mwey NflSO/V 30, 1952 NELSON 2,623,581

VENETIAN BLIND BAR ORGANIZATION Filed Aug. '30, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2FIGJT I INVENTOR HARRY lVfZSO/V H [S ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, 1952UNITEb STATES PATENT OFFICE Lorentzen Hardware Mfg., Corp, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 30, 1948, Serial No.46,737

Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds. The invention includes a newand improved form of bar for such blinds, as Well as a bar organizationand parts therefor. The bar, with little or no change, is usable as abottom bar, head bar or tilt bar.

Venetian blinds are customarily provided with a bottom bar extending forthe width of the blind and to which the lower ends of the ladder tapes,and usually the lift cords, are attached. This bar is usually thickerand heavier than the intermediate blind slats, and in the past has, inmost instances, been made of wood even though the intermediate slatshave often been made of metal.

In the form shown of the presentinvention, the bottom bar of the blindis formed of an assembly of rolled and stamped sheet metal partsconsisting principally of a channel-shaped body and a resilienttransversely-arched sheet metal cover for the open side of the body.Preferably, the intermediate slats of the blind are made of metal andthe lowermost slat constitutes the cover for the bottom bar. Theassembly is also useful as a metal tilt bar or head bar. This inventionis in some respects an improvement over that shown in my copendingapplication Serial No. 780,653, filed October 18,1947.

Various fittings, such as fittings for closing the ends of thechannel-shaped body and anchors for securing the ends of the laddertapes and lift cords of the blind to the bottom bar, complete the bottombar assembly. The component parts of the bar are held in assembledrelation by the interfitting of the parts, separate fastening devices orwelding of the parts of the assembly being unnecessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rigid,durable, easily-assembled bottom bar for a Venetian blind.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind bar that may be fabricatedeconomically of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts.

A further object is to provide an improved channel-shaped body suitablefor use in a Venetian blind bottom bar, head bar or tilt bar.

A further object is to provide improved end fittings and ladder tapefittings for Venetian blind bars.

A still further object is to generally improve Venetian blind bars.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies ofconstruction and assembly will more definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the apvention.

pended claims. Where parts are, for clarity and convenience, referred toon the basis of their oriented position shown in the accompanyingdrawing, no limitation as to positioning of the structure is to beimplied, since it will be understood that the structure may be inverted.Also in both the description and the claims, parts at times may beidentified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but suchnomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaningconsistent with the context and with the concept of my invention asdistinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which Ihave contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a Venetian blind embodying thepresent invention, the adjacent portion of the window casing also beingshown.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom bar assembly of afirst form oi the invention, an end fitting being shown in explodedrelation, portions of the bottom bar being cut away and portions of theladder tape and lift cord being indicated diagrammatically.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lift cord and ladder tape anchor forthe assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the anchor shown in Fig. 3 with liftcord and ladder tape attached, this organization being shown in invertedposition.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the bottom bar assembly taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2 the lift cord and ladder tape being indicated indot-dash lines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pulley fitting for incorporation in asecond form of the in vention for use in four-lift cord blinds.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 3, of a ladder tape anchorfor use in a third form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 5 of the bottom bar according to thesecond form of the in- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of analternative form of lift cord anchor for use in any of the forms of theinvention and having specially shapedresilient fingers.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the alternative form of ladder tapeanchor, taken on the line i l-45 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom bar and endfitting assembly shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being shown in explodedrelation and a rubber bumper having been added to the assembly.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 11 with theparts in assembled re lation, taken on the line l2-I 2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the rubber bumper shown in Figs. 11 and12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bottom bar equipped withan alternative end fitting which may be used to replace the end fittingshown in Figs. 2 and 11.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an end view of the bottom bar and end fitting shown in Figs.14 and 15.

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the end fitting shown in Figs. 14, 15and 16.

The general organization of a Venetian blind is shown in Fig. 1. Thewindow frame 4 is of a usual type and the Venetian blind is mountedtherein, only a'lowe r corner of, the blind being shown; The blindcomprises'a series of intermediate slats 5 supported in the customarymanner by two 'or more ladder tapes 6 (one'shown). A bottom bar I issecured to the lower end of the ladder tapes 6, as is usual.

Referring to Fig. 2, the bottom bar organization'there shown includes achannel-shaped sheet metalbody designated as a whole by II. This body isformed of relatively rigid sheet metal and may conveniently beformed byrolling. The body II has a uniform cross section throughout its length,the cross-sectional shape being seen in Figs. 2 and 5. 'Thebottomwall I2of the body I I is generally fiat exceptforjtwo spaced roundedcorrugations I' i -I4jextending'for the length of the body, whichproject vertically. upward as shown; The corrugations l4'-I4 are open,being formed with spaced vertical walls; and the corrugations arelocated symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center li'neofthe body Ii so asto' leave a central passage l5 extending for the lengthofthe'body.

The sides IIi'-I6 .of'.th e body I Iextend vertically upward for" atshort. distance and at their tops are'provided with:outwardly-projecting beads ll- -l'l from which edges IQ, I9 extendinwardly. The corrugations I4l4 extend upwardly slightly higher than theinturned edges |9'-I'9 of'the body.

The edges IIl' l9 of the body 5 I may be turned downwardly in additionto extending inwardly to partially'conceal the extreme terminal portionsof the edges. This configuration is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Thisconfiguration is particularly desirable if the body I I is formed ofstrip metal which is painted when in fiat form prior to rolling into theshape shown, since in the rolling process some of the paint may bescraped from theextreme terminal edge portions.

A cover strip 20 is provided for closing the open side of thechannel-shaped body. This cover strip is formed of resilient sheetmaterial such as metal and is preferably formed of a resilienttransversely-arched intermediate slat of the blind having an opening 2|formed for the passage of each lift cord. The cover strip 20 may be anddesirably is in all respects similar to the other intermediate blindslats.

The body II and cover strip 20 are so proportioned that the cover stripmay be telescoped or otherwise fitted into the body, the lateral edgesof the cover stripbeing received within the inside of the beads l1-'-I'|and immediately below the inturnededg'es l9l9. In order' to preventfortuitous movement of the cover strip 20 rela= tive to the body II, thecorrugations IlI I are formed suificiently high so that as the coverstrip 2-3 is placed within the body, it is necessary to slightlyincrease the transverse arch of the cover strip, the resilience of thecover strip biasing its lateral edges into frictional engagement withthe undersides of the'inturned edges of the body and also biasing itscentral portion into frictional engagement with the tops of thecorrugations I I-I l.

The cover strip 20 may be assembled with the body II by forcibly archingthe cover strip upwardly until both edges thereof may be entered intothe beads I'l-I'I at some point along the length of the strip. Then, byrunning a suitable :tool, such as a knife, along the remainder of thestrip, the strip may be sprung into engagement with the body, the coverstrip 29 assuming the same position as it would if telescoped endwiseinto the body I I.

Each open end of the channel-shaped body II may be closed by an'endfitting 22, this fitting being somewhat similar to the end fitting,disclosed in my above-mentioned copending application Serial No.780,653, In the, fitting shown herein, the end plate 2A of. the endfitting 22 extends outwardlyto cover the end. of the body I I at thebeads I 1ll. Also, a curved top flange 25 overlies the end of the coverstripzt, the end fittings further serving to preventfortuitousdisplacement of the cover strip.

The base portion of the end fitting 22 (Fig. 2) includes a pair ofspaced flanges 23, 23 generally L-shaped in cross section and telescopedwithin the body II between thesides Iii-Itand the corrugations I I-I4to' frictionally engage the body II and hold the fitting againstdisplacement. The upperjedge of each flange 23 preferably is. providedwith an outwardly-directed flange 28for engaging a' side I6 of the bodyII, and the inner edge of each flange 23 is preferably provided with aterminal inwardly-directed lug 33 for engaging a side of one of thecorrugations I4--I4.

The end fitting 22 is adapted forreceptionof a hollow tube or pin 38,wl'en the bar is to be used as a bottom bar in conjunction with holddownbracketssuch as shownifor example) in my U. S.,Patent 2,402,769,issuedJune 25, 1946, or when the bar is. used as a tilt bar as shown(for example) in my aboverreferred-to application Serial No. 780,653.'The vertical plate portion isprovided with a centrally located roundhole 54 for reception of the pin 3t.v

Beneath the hole 54, a central base flange 55 projects inwardly from thelower edgeof the end plate 24 between the flanges '23, 23. The flange 55is turnedupwardlyat its free end to provide a vertical portion spacedfrom and parallel to the plate 24. Theinteg'ral gussets 56, 55 may beturned up from, the flange 55 (Fig. 2) to reinforce the flange againstbending. A prong 57 is struck fromtheiIang'eBS to extend from a pointnear the free end of the flange towards the hole 54, the proportionsofthe prong being such that it win/enter tightly within the pin 35 so asto hold the inner end of the. pinin alignment and frictionallyengagethepin to retain it against fortuitousdisplacement.

In conjunction with the; end fitting 22, a bumper 59 .(Figs. 1143),maybe'usedto prevent marring the window 'sillby theend of the bottom,

bar I. The bumper 59 may be molded. or .other. Wi e rmed pe bbe tri a idies i o a' ej able material such as artificial rubber and plastic. Thisbumper has a plurality of thin flanges, 60-60 and BI proportioned to lieon the inside bottom wall of the body II between and on each side of thecorrugations I4-I4. The bumper also has n exterior flange 62 extendingparallel to and slightly spaced from flanges 50-60 and BI to extendalong the bottom outer surface of the bar II fora short distance. Thebumper 59 furnishes an elastic yielding end portion for the body II and,in addition, the flange 62 covers the end of the bottom I2 of the bodyII (the only portion of the end of body II not covered by the fitting22); and the flanges 606II and GI form a yieldable packing between thebody I I and the flanges 2323 and 55 of the end fitting to-aid inretaining it within the body.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show the ladder tape anchor 25 'used in the first formof the invention. This ladder tape anchor is preferably formed ofresilient sheet metal and has two marginalbands 21-2'I, one at each endof the anchor and shaped to conform closely with the cover strip 20.Resilient fingers 29, one at each end of each of the bands 2'I--2'Iserve as extensions of the bands and conform to the contour of the beadsII--I'I of the body II.

The central portion 30 of the anchor 26, lying between the bands2'|--2'I, is correspondingly curved to conform with the top surface ofthe bottom bar 1, including the cover strip and the inturned edges I9-I9of the body I I. The entire central portion 30 is displaced upwardlyslightly from the bands 21-21 to provide a space between the centralportion of the anchor 25 and the top surface of the cover strip 20 forreception of the tape branches of ladder tape 6, as shown in Fig. 4. Aseries of prongs 3| projecting inwardly generally parallel to the undersurface of the central portion are struck downwardly therefrom and serveto impale the ends of the ladder tape branches as shown in Fig. 4. Ifdesired, the prongs 3I may be flattened or clinched toward the undersurface of the central portion 30 after the ladder tape branches havebeen impaled thereon.

The central portion 30 of each ladder tape anchor 26 is provided with acentrally-located hole 32 which is preferably rectangular in outline.The hole 32 is formed to receive a lift cord of the blind, the lift cordin the first form of the invention then being knotted in a simpleoverhand knot as shown in Fig. 4 in order to prevent withdrawal of thelift cord from the anchor. The metal struck from the central portion 30of the anchor 2-5 in forming the hole 32 in this form of the inventionis preferably left as a downwardly-projecting tab 34, the purpose ofthis tab being hereinafter explained.

In the assembling of the bottom bar embodying the first form of thepresent invention, the body I I and cover strip 20 may first beassembled and the end fittings 22 inserted at that time or at any latertime. The lower ends of the two branches of each ladder tape 6 aresecured to a ladder tape anchor 25 as above described and an end of alift cord is threaded through the hole 32 of the anchor, the lift cordhaving already been reeved through the rest of the blind. The lift cord35 is then knotted as described to retain the cord within the anchor 26.It will be understood that the separate anchors 2B are used for theseveral ladder tapes of the blind.

The anchor 23 may thenlbe attached to the rest of the bottom barassembly by placing the anchor on the top surface of the assembly and!pressing downwardly on the central portion of attaching the anchor 26,the knot in the end of the lift cord 35 is first pressed throughtheopening 2| in the cover strip 2|] and then, as-

the anchor is pressed into position, the tab 34 of the anchor is engagedwithin the opening 2I of the cover strip as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5.The opening 2I serves the dual purpose of initial- 1y locating theanchor 26 in proper position and thereafter preventing fortuitousdisplacementof the anchor 26 along the bottom bar.

The ladder tape anchor 35 of the second form. of my invention is shownin Figs. 7 and 8. This anchor is the same as the anchor 26 previouslydescribed except that in forming the hole 31 for the lift cord the metalis entirely removed rather than being struck down to form adownwardly-projecting tab such as tab 34 of the anchor 25.

For the second form of the invention, which is employed for four-liftcord blinds, the cord is reeved in the usual way for such blinds,passing downwardly through the slats of the blind adjacent to one of theladder tapes, along the bottom bar of the blind and upwardly through theslats of the blind adjacent another ladder tape. Such a constructionrequires a pulley or other friction-reducing cord guide on the bottombar adjacent to each ladder tape.

In the form of the invention shown, a cord guide assembly 39 is providedwhich is best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This cord guide assembly consistsof a U-shaped metal body 40 adapted to fit within the central passage I5of the body I I of the bottom bar. A roller or sheave 4| is pivotallymounted within the body 40 by a rivet 42 passing through the body, theroller reducing the friction upon operation of the lift cord. The baseof the U-shaped formation comprising the body 40 may be cut away beneaththe roller 4| to provide additional clearance for the lift cord.

The body 40 of the cord guide assembly 33 is provided with a pair ofupwardly-projecting diverging ears 44 which serves as bearing surfacesto prevent fraying of the lift cord. As shown in the assembly of Fig. 8,these cars also project upwardly through the opening 2| of the coverstrip 20 and the hole 31 of the ladder tape anchor 35, thereby servingto prevent movement of both the pulley assembly 39 and the ladder tapeanchor 35 longitudinally of the bottom bar. The end of the body 40adjacent to the roller 4| is also provided with slightly divergingflanges 45 to prevent fraying of the lift cord.

In the assembly of this second form of the invention, the lift cord ispreferably reeved through the blind, including the cover strip 20, thecord guide assembly 39. and the ladder tape anchor 33, before the bodyII is engaged with the cover strip. After the lift cord has been soreeved, the body I I may be engaged with the cover strip 28, the cordguide assemblies 39 being inserted within the-passage I5 in thebody atthis time. After assembly of these parts, the ladder tape anchors 36, towhich the ladder tape branches have been already attached, may beclipped on to the bottom bar as described above, one anchor being usedfor each ladder tape. The

end fittings 22 may of course, be insertedinthe ends'of the body H atany time after the body and cover strip are assembled.

The ladder tape anchors 26 and 36 may each be provided with resilientfingers of the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The anchor 46 shown in partin these figures is similar to the anchors above described except thatthe resilient fingers 47 pro- ,ject vertically downward at theirmidportion 49 so as to provide an opening 59 between the finger and theouter surface of the body I I after assembly. This opening facilitatesthe insertion of the blade of a screw driver or any other hand tool forprying the ladder tape anchor from the body II, for disassembling "thebottom bar for any reason. It is contemplated that the resilient fingers61' might be provided on one side only of the ladder tape anchor to aidin disengaging that side, the other side being provided with resilientfingers 29.

A second form of end fitting 64. is shown in Figs. 14 to 17 which may beutilized in any of the above-described assemblies to replace the endfitting 22. The end fitting 64 comprises a drawn sheet metal stampinghaving a generally flat end wall 65 the outline of which conformsgenerally with the cross section of the bottom bar 1. Feripheral flanges6666 and 61-67, which may be unitary and extend continuously about theend wall 65, overlie the sides of the bottom bar 1 to retain the fitting64 in telescoped position over an end of the bottom bar. The flanges66-456 and 6l-61 may be given the outline shown for appearance and easeof manufacture.

The end fitting 64 may be positively retained on the bottom bar I by asnap-in button 69 of conventional design. The button 69 is retainedwithin aligned holes 76 and 77 in the bottom flange 67 of the endfitting and the bottom wall of the body H by diverging resilient legs79-49. The head H of the button may be covered with a rubber pad 72 toserve as a bumper and prevent marring of the window sill by the bottombar 7.

The end fitting 64 may be adapted for use with a hold-down bracket ofthe type in which the bracket has a horizontally-projecting pin thatengages the bottom bar. To this end, the wall 65 is provided with anoutwardly-pressed central portion 73 of generally conical form providedwith a round central hole 14 and. slot ifiopening upwardly from the holethrough the portion '13 to permit introduction of the in of the holddownbracket.

If desired, the end fitting 64 may be'molded to shape and formed ofrubber or preferably soft rubberlike plastic, in which case the button69 may be eliminated.

This second form of end fitting completely covers the ends of the bodyand cover slat of the bottom bar 1, thus concealing any rough orunpainted ends resulting from the cutting to proper length of the bottombar body stock and slat stock.

I claim:

1. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bar suitable for a bottom bar ortilt bar, said bar comprising a generally rectangular hollow sheet metalbody having an outwardly-projecting longitudinal bead formed on eachlateral side adjacent the top face of the bar, and anchors for attachingladder tape ends to the bar, each of said anchors comprising a resilientsheet metal stamping adapted to overlie the top face of the bar andhaving resilient fingers shaped to extend about the longitudinal beadsto retain the anchor in position, said anchors having means to engagethe ends of the ladder tape branches.

'2. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bar suitable for a bottom bar ortilt bar, said bar comprising a generally rectangular hollow sheet metalbody having an outwardly-projecting longitudinal bead formed on eachlateral side adjacent the top face of the bar, and anchors for attachingladder tape ends to the bar, each of said anchors comprising a resilientsheet metal stamping adapted to overlie the top face of the bar andhaving terminal pairs of spaced resilient fingers shaped to extend aboutthe longitudinal beads to retain the anchor in position, each anchorhaving a central portion provided on its underface withinwardly-projecting deformable prongs adapted to pierce and retain theends of ladder tape branches. 7

3. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bottom bar having atransversely-arched upper face and a ladder tape anchor for said bar,said ladder tape anchor comprising a resilient transverselyarched sheetmetal stamping adapted to overlie th upper face of the bar and havingdownwardly projecting resilient fingers adapted to engage the sides ofthe bar, the upper face of the bar being provided with an opening andthe ladder tape anchor having a downwardly-direc ted projection adaptedto be received within said opening.

4. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bottom bar having atransversely-arched upper face and a ladder tape anchor for said bar,said ladder tape anchor comprising a resilient transverselyarched sheetmetal stamping adapted to overlie the upper face of the bar and havingdownwardly-projecting resilient fingers adapted to engage the sides ofthe bar, the upper face of the bar being provided with a central openingto receive a lift cord and the ladder tape anchor having adownwardly-directed projection adapted to be received within saidopening.

5. A bottom bar for a Venetian blind comprising a channel-shaped bodyhaving an open side provided with a longitudinal groove, a cord guideassembly fitting within said groove, a cover for closing the open sideof the body and covering the groove and a ladder tape anchor overlyingthe cover and resiliently engaging the sides of the bottom bar, the cordguide assembly being provided with a projection passing through alignedopenings in the cover and ladder tape anchor.

HARRY NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,567 Page Feb. 5, 1901 749,391Lutz Jan. 12, 1904 1,668,953 Erickson May 8, 1928 2,079,852 Grassby May11, 1937 2,105,082 Johnson Jan. 11, 1938 2,111,980 Lawson Mar. 22, 19382,114,057 Lorentzen Apr. 12, 1938 2,123,366 Kehr et al. July 12, 19382,158,826 Lorentzen May 16, 1939 2,161,414 Hammer June 6, 1939 2,260,726Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,405,255 Horton Aug. 6, 1946 2,573,163 ThomsonOct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,109 Great Britain.1898

